This story first appeared on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in The Strategist Beauty Brief, a weekly newsletter in which our beauty writers share their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. But we liked it so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you want more first impressions of buzzy launches, quick takes on what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, and deep dives into the week’s best beauty launches, sign up here. The Strategist Beauty Brief is delivered every Wednesday.
I cannot resist the siren smell of a Lush when I’m out shopping. As my teeny London flat only has a shower, I can’t indulge in the brand’s bath bombs, so I now get my fix with its shower gels. I love (lightly) sweet-scented things, and this honey-and-orange-scented gel is pleasant without becoming sickly. It’s also soothing on my drier skin. —Rachael Griffiths
I keep a few body washes in rotation, but I’ve been all about moisture recently, so I’ve been reaching for the Naturium body oil wash and the L’Occitane almond shower oil. With them, my moisturizing process starts in the shower. Before this year, I was never a big shower-oil person (there was a phase in 2017 where they became popular for a bit), but now I can’t get enough. I also like the Naturium body washes with actives like vitamin C and mandelic acid. I haven’t seen a massive difference since I started using it, but I like how they feel on my skin. —Tembe Denton-Hurst
I try to buy bar soap as much as I can, and this is the best one I’ve tried. It’s pretty bare bones — no fancy scents — but I love that it really locks in moisture. It lathers beautifully and lasts forever. —Arielle Avila
I’ve been using this Grown Alchemist body wash with a lovely, refreshing, citrus-y scent. It’s got a very lightweight gel texture that foams up lightly but doesn’t strip the skin. It also contains willow bark and chamomile for some mild, all-natural exfoliation (though I’ll still go in with my trusty Salux for a real scrub-down). —Kitty Guo
I was extremely loyal to Nécessaire’s eucalyptus body wash until fellow Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla made a case for the olibanum scent. Now I’m hooked. Paired with a touch of vanilla and cassis buds, it’s earthy and sweet. —Dominique Pariso
I have no idea how or why I started using Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance Free, but it’s been four years now. Like my favorite face wash, this formula doesn’t have any added fragrance. But its scent is very neutral and a bit soothing (and probably the thing I love most about this wash). I regularly take a whiff of it after I pump it onto my wash cloth. It’s also (importantly) non-drying and hydrating in the winter and refreshing in the summer. I don’t feel like I need to do seasonal switch-offs because Aveeno Skin Relief is very middle of the road, very all seasons. Plus, it’s affordable. I get the refill bags, which aren’t less expensive than a bottle, but buying them makes me feel responsible. —Crystal Martin
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